“She received communion at the Papal Mass in DC”
WTF???
I thought the Pope was saying that catholics that support abortion are excommunicated. Does he mean what he says or not?
It’s not merely what the Pope “says,” it is longstanding Canon Law. Someone who procures, performs or is an accessory to abortion receives “latae sententiae” excommunication. This is sometimes called “automatic” excommunication, meaning the offense is so grave that it requires no decree by the Church, but the mere act itself removes the person from God’s grace and from a state of communion with the Body of Christ. This is rare and very serious; many “mortal” sins do not carry the latae sententiae penalty.
OK, so that explained, a person in this state (or even just a state of mortal sin) must not present him/herself for reception of the Eucharist. However, the burden is usually on the individual to refrain from going forward. It a bit difficult at a Mass of 25,000 people. Can the Pope send Swiss Guards running down to grab Pelosi, Kerry, Kennedy, et al, and physically prevent them from receiving?
However, there are priests and bishops who would deny them communion if they appeared at their own churches and were recognizable, and were known AT THAT MOMENT to not have yet repented and received absolution and reunification with the Church. Something hard for a priest to judge who does not know the individual. These politicians take advantage of the situation by deliberately seeking out weak-willed or renegade priests who will give them the Eucharist.